Detroit Red Wings: 4 Reasons They Could Struggle to Make the Playoffs

Since the Detroit Red Wings have made the Stanley Cup playoffs every season since the 1989-90 season, one could be excused if he or she could not imagine them missing the playoffs.

Over the 21 playoff seasons since then, Detroit has had plenty of superstars and role players to help lead the charge to the playoffs each season.

Even though the 1989-90 season seems like light years ago, it is important to note that with a far more competitive NHL in today's game, Detroit went from first in the NHL midseason to finishing fifth in the Western Conference in the 2011-12 season.

A mere seven points were all that separated the Red Wings from eighth place, and they were only 12 points up on ninth place Calgary.

But, Detroit couldn't really miss the playoffs could they?

Well, most NHL fans would say not a chance, but there's always the distant possibility.

Here are four reasons they could struggle to make the playoffs next season.

1. No Replacement for Lidstrom

But what really stood out about Detroit's former captain was his excellence in playing his position. Part of that was smarts and knowing where to be, but combine Lidstrom's smarts with his training efforts every offseason (even more so while getting older last season at age 41) and one can see why he was a cut above the rest of the NHL's defensemen.

In fact, saying that Lidstrom was "a cut above the rest" doesn't even do him justice.

Lidstrom is in the conversation for best defenseman of all time with the great Bobby Orr.

Lidstrom's Norris Trophy total (seven in all) shows how great a player the Detroit Red Wings needed to get in this offseason to match (or come close to matching) Lidstrom's talent on the top defensive pairing if the Red Wings wanted to stay relevant this coming season.

2. Jimmy Howard's Play Post-Injury Last Season

But, that All-Star game happened at the end of January when Howard was still in contention for the Vezina Trophy.

Two games after the All-Star weekend, Howard broke a finger and was out supposedly for "two games."

That two games turned into six games, and all of a sudden, Howard was trying to re-acclimate himself to NHL games in time for the playoffs.

The main problem was most of the teams the Red Wings were playing down the stretch were either vying for a playoff spot or for position.

This meant that, instead of playing games that most fans view as "meaningless" in October and November, teams were upping the anti on a nightly basis.

Howard's numbers spiraled, and post-injury, he was 3-6-3 with a no-decision, and his post-injury save percentage was .830.

Howard could not get any help in the playoffs either, as the Red Wings lost in five games to the Predators. Although Howard did get let down by his defense frequently, there were just some saves that he should have made that he did not make.

If Howard struggles at all out of the gate with a shortened season, the Red Wings will suffer, and their playoff chances may hang in the balance.

3. Zetterberg/Datsyuk's Slow Starts Last Season

If Detroit sees a slow start from their star tandem of Zetterberg and Datsyuk, the Red Wings could possibly struggle to miss the playoffs.

Last season, Zetterberg had seven points in the first 18 games of last season. Datsyuk was slightly better with 11 points in the first 17 games.

It should be noted that, although these players can break out at any time and completely take over games (Datsyuk had eight points in the next three contests after those first 17 games, while Zetterberg had six points in the next four games after his season opening slump), consistency is the name of the game.

If Detroit cannot find a way to spread out Zetterberg and Datsyuk's point totals, they will be hard-pressed to win games early in the season.

Combine that with the fact that the season is already starting later than normal and the Red Wings simply do not have the time to make up this lack of points (and possibly lack of wins if the rest of the team cannot get going) in the brief schedule this season.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk must start the season on a high note for the Red Wings.